The Fair Start for Kids Act (FSKA) provides the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) with resources to make child care more affordable by capping copays and expanding income eligibility so more families are able to access high-quality child care.

The Fair Start for Kids Act creates a rate incentive for licensed and certified child care providers and Early ECEAP (Early Childhood Education Assistance Program) contractors to help expand access to high-quality child care for parents returning to work after using paid family leave.

Dear Tribal Partners, Child Care, and Early Learning Providers,

At the direction of the Washington State Legislature and in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is making a temporary change that allows licensed providers to claim for their child care subsidy payment based on enrollment rather than attendance. This temporary change is effective from April 1, 2022, through June 30, 2022.

Dear Tribal Partners, Child Care, and Early Learning Providers,

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is reaching out to you for help in developing a child care subsidy rate for families that use child care during non-standard hours. 

Can you please assist us by completing a 15-question survey about child care during non-standard hours? The survey is available in Somali, Spanish, and English.  

The Fair Start for Kids Act provides the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) with resources to stabilize child care, support providers in serving the children that come through their doors, and allows more families to access affordable, high-quality child care.

Effective Oct. 1, these changes positively effect eligibility for Working Connections Child Care (WCCC), a care subsidy program available from DCYF. The WCCC income eligibility is increased, resulting in lower copayments for many families.

Licensed Family Home Child Care Providers

Authorization Changes for All Children, Effective July 1, 2021

Monthly Units - Beginning July 1, 2021, all base rate payments for licensed family homes will be authorized as a monthly unit. DCYF authorizes:

Dear Child Care Providers,

Effective July 1, 2021, the timeframe for providers to submit child care subsidy invoice claims shortens from six months to three months. This means invoices for child care payments created on or after July 1, 2021, must be claimed within three months. The month the invoice is created is not included in the monthly count. For example, if the invoice is created in July, the three months include August, September, and October, and you need to submit the invoice no later than October 31 at 4:30 p.m. to be eligible for payment. 

Dear Licensed Family Home Provider,

Beginning July 1, 2021, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will:

The Fair Start for Kids Act, signed by Gov. Inslee on May 7, increases subsidy base payment rates. The new subsidy rates take effect July 1, 2021, and can be found online at Working Connections Child Care. If your private pay rate is equal to or higher than the new subsidy rate, you do not need to update your rates.

Dear Child Care Provider,

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is waiving child care copayments for families accessing subsidies for July, August, and September 2021. Notifications are being sent to families via postcard informing them of the waived copayments and that their copayments will begin again on Oct. 1, 2021.

Thank you for your continued support of children and their families.

If you have any questions, please call 1-844-626-8687.